For the 31st time Dick Hoyt will push his son Rick in a specialized wheelchair all along the route and across the finish line.

The Boston Marathon just wouldn't be the same without Team Hoyt.

Rick was born with cerebral palsy.

"When he was a baby, they said to put him in an institution, that he would be a vegetable for life," said Dick Hoyt.

But Rick amazed everyone. In fact, it was his idea to run the marathon.

"It's all Rick's fault," joked Hoyt. "It was all his idea. He asked me to a run a race 34 years ago for a college student who'd been paralyzed from the waist down.

Rick communicates with a computer and he said 'Dad, I want him to know that life goes on even though he's paralyzed.'"

Father and son have completed almost 1100 races all around the world, but the Boston Marathon is the most meaningful.

"They are yelling out on the route 'You guys are the Boston Marathon.' It's just an unbelievable feeling," said Hoyt.

This marathon will be extra special because just a few yards from the start line in Hopkinton, stands a life-size bronze statue of the Hoyts.

"I couldn't believe it. The thing just makes me look so good. I just love this statue! It doesn't get any better than that. To us, it's like winning the World Series or the Stanley Cup or Superbowl. It means that much to us," said Hoyt.

In celebration of this year's marathon, Rick dyed his hair blonde and etched the number "31" on the back of his head.

As the bronze statue depicts, Rick will be raising his hand high for the 31st time when he and his dad cross the finish line. They call it the victory salute.

The "Yes You Can!" statue, created by sculptor Mike Tabor, was commissioned by John Hancock Financial and donated to the Town of Hopkinton.